I misunderstood. If one speaker is connected to left amp channel and one to right amp channel and you're using a phantom center as a result then no issue. Biwiring isn't a particularly real thing, don't go there but connecting two speakers to a single amp channel isn't biwiring either, tho.
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Two quality centres vs Three average?
- Thread starter Evo42
- Start date
The only speaker/s suitable to put on the side are coax like kef .
” just swapping horizontal vs vertical dispersion “ it’s kind of terrible don’t
so you don’t want to flip normal speakers .so you’re down to coax speakers or threeway center speakers for LCR .
if youre going with small kefs I recommend 3 and xover at 80Hz or more if needed .
center chan does a lot of work in movies and the kefs are small so 3 does the work better .
and have them at the edge of the cabinet.
- Thread Starter
- #24
Even if the horizontal and vertical dispersion range swapped is more suitable( for example the Polk s30 reviewed) or very similar or is there other issues at play?” just swapping horizontal vs vertical dispersion “ it’s kind of terrible don’t
This is only my personal opinion .
I would not use any speaker on its side unless made for it , like genelec or kef.
But is not polk s30 a center channel ? So it’s already on its side ? I would not use that kind of center as L and R only a threeway center with the tweeter above the mid or a coax center ? MTM center ch are not to great they can suffice as center sure but not as L and R as there your not sitting right in front of them.
- Thread Starter
- #26
Okay thanks. The reference to the Polk was that it would perform even better flipped due to the swapping of the horizontal/vertical performance. It also gets mentioned in Erin audios reviews that some speakers would even perform better flipped. So it gets me wondering whether it's subject to the horizontal/vertical dispersion performance that makes the difference. If that's the case two bookshelf speakers horizontal with a centre maybe better than 3 X centre's particular if MTM design.
Yes but flipping a center would make it even talller .
Wall mounted speakers on the side of the screen ?
Wall mounted speakers on the side of the screen ?
- Thread Starter
- #28
I'm not using those speakers specifically and flipping them just making the point about the dispersion characteristics being the key factor. Amir and Erin both talk about flipping certain speakers could improve their performance.
Yes it’s usually cases with center speakers are better the “wrong” way
if they are MTM.Rarely a normal speaker
Exactly, but many centers are actually better in the direction you normally would not use them.
If we define horizontal as the orientation you’re supposed to use the speaker.
… what amir and erin define as horizontal is your horizontal ie the width of the room.
And vertical is floor to ceiling.
Speakers placed as intended by manufacturer “bottom” side down
And vertical is floor to ceiling.
Speakers placed as intended by manufacturer “bottom” side down
- Thread Starter
- #34
Yeah they're okay looked at that option but hardly any allow your own subwoofer except Sennheiser but still can't add rear and height speakers. My sub alone is worth more than most soundbars so I want to use it hahaha.
Current thinking is maybe slim bookshelf speakers and centre. Will widen soundstage and work better. Something like the svs centre and satellites or the polk es 30 and es10. It's only really for movies I have a seperate hifi system. Problem is I only have 191mm under the tv with no real way to adjust so it is cutting it fine. Might plane the legs of the sideboard hahaha
Ricardojoa
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Might want to consider those Cambridge bmr speakers minx min22.
Ricardojoa
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Well then i might consider 3 kef 150. Their square box cabinet means they might look more uniform if the speakers are all put together
AwesomeSauce2015
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This is pretty much what I would recommend. The Q150 is a coaxial speaker, so it doesn't really care whether it is sitting upright or sideways. The only downside with the Q150 is the lack of midbass punch, due to the small woofer surface area.
Something like the Q250c is basically a Q150 just with passive radiators instead of a port, so if you are placing it up against a wall it may be better. It will probably have similar midbass performance to the Q150.
If 3x Q250c are too much, then 2 of them will be fine, though having a dedicated center channel is obviously preferred.
No matter what, speakers that small are going to have issues reaching even an 80hz crossover, unless you have a very small room or listen at low levels.
I would avoid using bookshelf speakers on their side or other traditional center speakers (say like the Klipsch RP-500c) as their 2-way design, and non-coaxial layout cause issues when listening off-axis (different seats get a wildly different sound).
So if the Q150 / Q250 are too big:
Kef also made something smaller (link to a review to get you started), but you would need to look somewhere like Ebay to find them now.
If you must buy new, given these constraints, I honestly would recommend a good soundbar. Having an AV receiver with fancy room correction and such doesn't do you any good if you don't also have good speakers. Nobody really makes good speakers I would recommend for a home theater application in the size constraints you have.
The truth of the matter is that despite all the hate they get, soundbars are still a good option to get quality sound in a small package.
It looks like you have a Sony TV, so if it is a modern one it may have special integration options for a Sony soundbar, and I also know that Samsung's soundbars are pretty good.
I wouldn't recommend a passive soundbar. Ones with built-in processing and amplification can correct for their speakers much more effectively than trying to use an AVR's room correction to do it. They also can have features like beamforming and such that enable fancy surround experiences (Though I have never heard it so YMMV).
Since you're agonizing over the choice, my guess is that you'll want to continue upgrading at some point. Don't be fooled into thinking these are your forever speakers.
With that in mind, spend all your money on a quality pair of speakers for left and right. When you eventually want better sound, add a proper center channel speaker. With this strategy, someday you might even move those bookshelves to surround duty and buy an even better pair for the mains.
With that in mind, spend all your money on a quality pair of speakers for left and right. When you eventually want better sound, add a proper center channel speaker. With this strategy, someday you might even move those bookshelves to surround duty and buy an even better pair for the mains.
- Thread Starter
- #40
Thanks for your detailed reply that has given me great guidance. I realise a soundbar could be great and in terms of clarity they may surpass many home theatre set ups but the limitations still lay with the the small drivers. They also rely on a high crossover with their subs. With my current Sony soundbar I need the sub to the rear and the disconnect and lack of midrange is not great.
Plus I have a svs sb2000pro from hifi set up( same room different location) and no soundbar sub is going to compete with that. Even with my current temporary situation with my rear speakers on their side as fronts experiencing the impact of the subwoofer is great and was the reason I started going down this path.
I have good quality rear speakers and bmr satellites up high for Atmos, plus a Denon x1800h now. Their are solutions and thanks for confirming my options. Also great point re the q250 vs q150 and being close to the wall.
I can potentially do small slimmer bookshelf speakers on the outer edges and centre in the middle. Such as the svs satellite(still a 4.5 inch driver) and the prime.
Edit: actually looking again at the sideboard I am preferring the look of two or three centres.
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